Finding Winnie

The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear

By: Lindsay Mattick, Sophie Blackall - Illustrator

Narrated by: Erin Moon

Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!

In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war. Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey - from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England...and finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin. Here is the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh.

©2015 Lindsay Mattick (P)2016 Recorded Books

True stories are the best

The story behind the story of everyone’s favorite bear Winnie the Pooh. Thank you so much for sharing

Great, but find book online to see illustrations

Would you listen to Finding Winnie again? Why?

Yes - I like a quick children's book between 10+ hour intense books. This was informative and interesting. I ended up sending the hardcover to nephews.

Any additional comments?

The illustrations are great. Go to the Amazon website to see a few.

Best story.

My granddaughter's name is Monica. She is 10, non verbal autism. Monica found this book at school. The librarian said she listened to it all of the time. I bought the paper book, and this audio book that we listen to every night. A+

A Bear Named Winnie

I first encountered this true story watching a TV movie (A Bear Named Winnie). This deeply compelling story of Winnie’s first “ owner” delves into the compassion shared between a soldier in training then in the trenches and the healing power of love and understanding. Harry unselfishly leaves Winnie at the London Zoo where she charmed children and adults alike over many, many years. AA and CR Milne were among the most famous.


This is a wonderful book! Please share it widely but also see the film if you possibly can!

Beloved story already in our hearts!

Lyrical prose and beautiful pictures (looked up), but most of all, I loved hearing the true story of my most beloved bear and author of all the Winnie the Pooh books.